Health officials probe deadly respiratory illness in Alabama

May 22, 2013|Reuters

By Verna Gates

BIRMINGHAM, Ala., May 22 (Reuters) - U.S. and state healthauthorities are investigating an unidentified respiratoryillness that has killed two of 10 people hospitalized with it inAlabama since last week.

Preliminary tests do not indicate the bird flu, nor a newmutation of any known influenza virus, said Dr. Mary McIntyre,an assistant state health officer at the Alabama Department ofPublic Health. Two patients did test positive for the H1N1strain of the flu.

Bacteria such as MRSA (Methicillin-resistant StaphylococcusAureus) remains a possibility, especially as a secondaryinfection, McIntyre said on Wednesday. However, one patienttested for MRSA by a physician had negative results.

"At this point, it could be anything. We are testing foreverything," McIntyre said.

State health officials believe it is unlikely the patientsare suffering from the new coronavirus that surfaced in theMiddle East last year, because none had traveled, she said.

Laboratory samples were sent to the Centers for DiseaseControl and Prevention in Atlanta for evaluation, and the agencyis expected to issue a report within 24 hours, she said.

Those hospitalized with the illness had symptoms of fever,coughing, pneumonia and shortness of breath, health officialssaid.

The first checked into a hospital last week, and the mostrecent patients were hospitalized on Wednesday. One person hasbeen released, one is improving and the others are stillsuffering from their initial symptoms, according to McIntyre.

The patients range in age from the 20s to late 80s and alllived in the Dothan, Alabama, area, but they were spread outaround the community with no epidemiological link, McIntyresaid.

"Right now, we are not finding a connection...such as aplace of work, a restaurant where they all ate, or a meetingthey all attended," she said.

People with similar symptoms are encouraged to stay home andcall their physician, health officials said.